The
area chosen by the Anzac Corps as a landing area was the coast to
the north of Kabatepe. However, the Anzacs had landed in the steep,
inaccessible area of Ariburnu due to their boats having been carried
by the strong current. First landing group consisted of 1500 men
with the same number again in a following wave. The first target
to be captured after the landing was the "Karacimen Bloc."
One of the battalions of the 27th regiment of the 9th Turkish Division
in Ariburnu was guarding the coasts of the area. One company of
the battalion had spread from the Ariburnu hills to Agildere. This
company consisted squads; one on the Ariburnu hilltops, one in Balikcidamlari
and one other in reserve on Haintepe. The Anzac attack began at
4.30 on 25th April. They landed at Ariburnu in the form of a surprise
attack. The defending squad opened fire on the invading forces.but
the Anzacs advanced. The Turkish company defending the coast immediately
reported the situation to 27 regimental Command to the west of Eceabat.
While the Regimental Commander was giving his report to the 9th
Division, at the same time he informed the 19th Division. The 8th
Company Commander brought up reinforcements to counter the first
wave of attacks, however, the heavy losses caused by the intense
cannon fire from the ships and the lack of ammunition led him to
retreat. Although Staff Lieutenant-Colonel Mustafa Kemal had sent
reports to the army and the Corps Command at Gallipoli, he received
no reply. Using his initiative he attacked the Anzacs.

Reinforcing
the 57th Regiment with a hill-top cannon battery, he advanced towards
Ariburnu via KocaCimen. In a critical moment Mustafa Kemal gave
the order for a company to rapidly reach the area and for the forward
battalion to immediately enter the fray. With their arrival, the
Turkish forces attained the initiative. The 57th Regiment completed
their battle preparations by noon and moved southwards from Conkbayiri
to the Anzac forces. This strike could not advance any further than
Duztepe because of the effective cannon fire from the ships. He
arrived at Korucakoy and reported the situation to the Army Headquarters.
He met the commander of the 3rd corps at Maltepe from whom he received
permission to deploy the entire 19th Division after explaining to
him the situation. He moved those forces forward. Mustafa Kemal's
decision, on the night of 25-26th April was to take the command
of the 27th Regiment and to attack the Anzacs with two regiments
from the south and two regiments from the north and to drive them
that night at whatever cost into the sea. Same night the attack
was deployed. Since the majority of the 27th Regiment which arrived
from Aleppo was composed of aged soldiers, the action on the southern
flank did not develop as hoped. The 57th and 72nd Regiments forced
the Anzacs to retreat further south from the Cesarettepe hill-top.
The Anzacs were in great difficulty to defend their positions with
this latest assault. The allied commander decided to evacuate his
forces into Hamilton.Due to the lack of necessary vehicles, the
evacuation move was suspended. Dig-in and defend order was given
instead.